If you download maps for offline use you don't even need a SIM card or a mobile data connection.
Apps such as Komoot like Outdooractive are recommended for bike tours and hiking and there's also OsmAnd for all kinds of offline maps.
The only thing you need to invest in is a stable bracket for the handlebars or the windscreen and they generally cost little more than a cup of coffee.
There's also a large selection of navigation apps for offline use in the car, including MapFactor Navigator, Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps, Maps.me and Here WeGo. They usually also offer modes for pedestrians and cyclists. Basic usage is generally free.
Telecommunications specialist Alexander Kuch recommends drivers use a car charger so that the phone doesn't run out of juice on the way.
The old 12-volt cigarette lighter is less and less necessary, now that most newer cars come with USB sockets that you can leave a cable plugged into.
If the old phone has a SIM card you can use Google Maps or Apple Maps, both of which are free. The advantage of a data connection is that your maps can display up-to-date traffic information that can help you to plan your route. A pre-paid SIM card can be bought quite cheaply.
Investing in a prepaid card is also worthwhile for family vacations.
An old smartphone can be converted into a mobile wi-fi hotspot so that internet access is guaranteed regardless of the mobile phone contracts of the individual family members.
You just need to activate the personal hotspot on the old phone, a feature that's available in both Android and iOS.
Another option is to turn the old phone into a dashcam for your car, and there are plenty of apps made for this purpose.
Kuch recommends paying attention to three things with such apps: Does the recording start by itself or do you have to press the record button every time?
Does the app register an accident and then save it automatically? And does the app overwrite the previous recordings if nothing happens?
Accidents aren't the only risk, cars can also be stolen. If they are they can easily be tracked with a smartphone — provided the phone has an active SIM and has location tracking switched on.
The phone also needs to have a power supply and to be hidden somewhere where the thieves won't find it.
The device tracking tools that come built into Android and iOS are sufficient for this purpose, Kuch says.
